Meta has begun removing users under 16 in Australia from Instagram, Threads, and Facebook as the country prepares to enforce its new youth social media ban.
Under the law, major platforms — including TikTok and YouTube — must block underage users by December 10 or face significant fines for failing to take “reasonable steps” to comply.
A Meta spokesperson said the company is working to remove all identified under-16 users before the deadline, noting that enforcement will be “ongoing and multi-layered.” Young users will be able to save their account histories and regain access, with all content restored, once they turn 16.
The ban is expected to impact hundreds of thousands of teens, with Instagram alone reporting around 350,000 Australian users aged 13 to 15. Some platforms such as Roblox, Pinterest, and WhatsApp are currently exempt, though this may change.
Meta said it supports the law but urged the government to shift age-verification responsibility to app stores so teens don’t have to verify themselves across multiple platforms.
YouTube criticised the policy, warning it could make young people “less safe,” since those without accounts could still browse but without protective filters. Australia’s communications minister rejected the claim as “weird,” insisting platforms must handle the harmful content they host.
The minister added that some teens have taken their lives after exposure to damaging online content, saying the law aims to make the digital space safer even if it cannot fix every problem.
An internet rights group has filed a legal challenge, arguing the ban violates free-speech rights. Authorities also expect teens to try bypassing the rules with fake IDs or AI-altered photos, though regulators admit no system will be perfect.
Other nations are monitoring Australia’s approach, with Malaysia set to introduce a similar under-16 rule next year and New Zealand preparing its own restrictions.
